Author: space4knews

March 13, Panchthar. The Tinsimana/Falot area was blanketed in snow that day. Yaks were joyfully wandering atop the snowy terrain, their legs covered in snow. Rhododendron bushes appeared draped in snowy white sheets. Tourists visiting due to the snowfall appeared delighted. Among them was Anurup Lepcha from Sikkim, India. Visiting with his family, he shared, “I have come to this place four times, but this time the snowfall made the experience truly unique.”

According to locals, snowfall at the end of Chaitra (mid-March) is a rare event for this region. The area offers breathtaking scenery not only this season but throughout the year. Situated within Falelung Rural Municipality of Panchthar, this spot lies along the India-Nepal border. Currently, rhododendron flowers are blossoming along the route, and the yak herds are busy in their enclosures. The Panchthar Chararate–Falot–Chivabhanjyang–Timbung Pokhari tourism trail is notably attractive, with Falot holding special significance on this path.

“The changing seasons provide different spectacular vistas,” explained Chandralal Nepal, a homestay operator here. “This location features stunning views of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Kumbhakarna, alongside local natural beauty. It is also an area with historical significance. Yaks are prominent here, and red pandas can be found lower down the slopes. In the monsoon, greenery abounds; in winter, you can experience snow and towering mountains.” Visitors have the chance to sample local delicacies made from yak milk such as kheer, churpi, and cheese, Nepal added.

Visitors can easily reach this area by car via Sandakpur and the Indian route. It is also accessible from Panchthar’s Phidim through the Memeng route. Motorbiking is popular among travelers here. Before Sikkim became part of India, this tri-junction—where Nepal, India, and Sikkim meet—earned the name Tinsimana, meaning ‘three borders.’ It still connects to Sikkim and West Bengal today. Trekking paths lead from the Nepal side. The hills, small mountains, and uniquely shaped rocks add to the region’s charm. At an elevation of 3,586 meters, Tinsimana offers unparalleled natural beauty. Each year, Indian tourists arrive here via Sandakpur, but tourist numbers from Nepal remain limited.

Images of Tinsimana / Falot area at various times:

29 Chaitra, Kathmandu – A boat capsizing incident on the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh, India, has resulted in the death of 11 people. Additionally, five more individuals are reported missing. The boat was carrying pilgrims visiting a religious site, authorities confirmed.

Following the accident, 22 people were rescued alive from the river and have been sent to the hospital for treatment.

Several tasks from the government’s announced ‘100-Point Agenda for Administrative Reform’ have not been completed within the stipulated timeframe. After Balen Shah’s appointment as Prime Minister, the first cabinet meeting held on Chaitra 13 set the schedule to complete these 100 tasks on time. According to Madhusudan Burlakoti, the secretary who was transferred from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to the Election Commission last week, many of the reform issues within these 100 points were proposed by the relevant ministries. He shared that he too had submitted some proposals on behalf of his ministry, stating, “The agenda for administrative reform includes topics raised by the ministries as well as some points mentioned in the Prime Minister’s manifesto.” Therefore, the responsibility to implement these reforms lies with the respective ministries. “Where technical issues arose with certain matters, these problems were formally noted on time, and we trust that they will receive attention,” Burlakoti added.

Despite nearly two weeks having passed since the government was formed, many important initiatives remain incomplete. Most of these are politically sensitive tasks. What were the tasks scheduled to be done within 15 days? Point 5 specifies: “Formally acknowledge state, social, and policy-based injustices, discrimination, and deprivation of opportunities faced by Dalit and historically excluded communities, and announce a reform-oriented program with an official apology within 15 days to lay the foundation for social justice, inclusive restitution, and historical reconciliation.” Point 7 mandates: “Establish a high-level inquiry committee within one week to investigate the events that occurred on Bhadra 24, 2082 (September 9, 2025).”

Former Home Secretary Umesh Prasad Mainali considers the steps taken by the Balen government appropriate. He claims the decision to remove self-serving ministers and alert others sends a positive message, reflecting a government that is strict and decisive. “However, a well-thought-out plan and strategy are preferable to immature decisions,” Mainali advised regarding personnel management, “Employees should be encouraged through orientation rather than feared.” He noted that senior officials in the bureaucracy have conveyed messages along the lines of ‘there is no need to be afraid.’ This, he believes, will help achieve government goals; otherwise, there is a risk of failure like previous administrations.

According to Secretary Burlakoti, the set deadlines will aid in meeting the targets. He described the Prime Minister and ministers as disciplined and organized. Although some employees may have to work harder, many are progressing without obstacles under the Prime Minister and government’s directives. “We also need to observe their pace,” he said. “Based on what is circulating in the market, I have not noticed any doubt within the bureaucracy.”

Nepal Police Club emerged as the team champion at the 5th Krishnaprasad Bhattarai Memorial National Karate Championship, securing 7 gold medals. The Armed Police Force (APF) secured second place with 6 gold medals, while the Tribhuvan Army Club placed third with 4 gold medals. The competition featured 210 athletes from 7 provinces and 3 departmental teams competing across 17 events.

Nepal Police Club collected a total of 13 medals, including 7 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze, to claim the championship title. All finals for the 17 events concluded on Saturday at the Karate Academy in Satdobato. In the men’s 50 kg category, Police athlete Rakesh Manandhar defeated Bammin Gurung of Gandaki Province decisively with a score of 6–1 to win the gold medal. In the women’s under 68 kg category, Police’s Ashika Rai beat Army’s Sampada KC narrowly with a 1–0 score to claim gold.

Police athlete Swanim Manandhar successfully defended his title by winning the men’s individual kata for the fourth consecutive time. In the individual accolades, Police’s Barsha Budha Magar and APF’s Pradeep Baijali Magar were honored as the ‘Best Fighters’ in the women’s and men’s divisions respectively. The Police team, crowned champions, received a trophy along with a cash prize of NPR 150,000; APF and the Army received NPR 75,000 and NPR 35,000 respectively. The awards ceremony was graced by Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Indra Bahadur Baniya, who presented the prizes to the winning athletes.

March 13, Dhangadhi – A young man died after a collision between a Bolero jeep and a motorcycle in Kailali district. The accident occurred on Hulaki Highway in Kailari Rural Municipality-1, involving a Bolero pickup jeep with registration number Supprapra 01–001 Cha 3753 and a motorcycle with registration number Ba 26 Pa 3027.

The motorcycle rider, 22-year-old Ram Milan Chaudhary from Fulbari, Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-19, died as a result of the accident. Chaudhary was seriously injured and taken to Nisarga Hospital in Dhangadhi for medical treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries Saturday evening, the police reported.

The police have taken into custody the Bolero pickup driver, 23-year-old Raju Dagoura from Bhajani Municipality-5, and are conducting further investigation into the incident.

The peace talks between Iran and the United States held in Islamabad, Pakistan, concluded without reaching any resolution, according to the US delegation. “We have been here for 21 hours. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach an agreement,” said US Vice President JD Vance during a press conference following the talks.

Leading the US delegation, Vice President Vance announced that the American team would now return home. He stated that the United States had clearly communicated its “red lines,” but Iran did not agree to those conditions. “We discussed all these issues,” Vance said, “and many others beyond those as well.”

“We could not arrive at a situation where Iran would accept our conditions,” he added. When discussing US policy toward the negotiations, Vance told reporters, “I believe we were fully flexible; we were in a position to find common ground.” He also revealed that throughout the lengthy talks, there were multiple communications with President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the talks as “intensive” but stated that their success would depend on the “seriousness and goodwill” of the other party. He urged Washington not to make “excessive demands and unjustified requests” and called for the recognition of Iran’s “legitimate rights and interests.” Baghaei mentioned that discussions covered topics such as the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, and the “complete end to war in Iran.” This meeting was mediated by Pakistan following a recent agreement between the US and Iran to observe a two-week ceasefire.

Chief District Officer of Dolpa, Junu Hamal Dhakal, has successfully conducted elections despite the region’s remote geography and limited resources. She pursued postgraduate studies in public policy through the Australia Awards scholarship and chose to serve her homeland. Hamal, originally from Jumla, encouraged the youth of Karnali to seek opportunities within their own region, supported by family and self-confidence. 29 Chaitra, Dolpa.

Amidst the challenging terrain of the Himalayas, administrative difficulties, and scarce opportunities, Junu Hamal Dhakal leads Dolpa’s administration. Her journey is not merely a tale of reaching a government position but an inspirational life story of a Karnali daughter shaped by struggle, confidence, and family support. Reflecting on her childhood in Jumla, she shared, “I am a daughter of Jumla. My official documents still list Jumla as my permanent address. Now, I serve as Chief District Officer in Dolpa, but my identity remains that of a Karnali daughter.”

She spent her early years in Jumla, at a time when it was customary to send sons to better schools and daughters to government schools. However, her parents provided equal opportunities to their four daughters and one son. Despite financial hardships, she attended a quality English medium school in Jumla. This family philosophy laid the foundation for her future. Due to her strong academic performance, her family wished for her to become a doctor, but Hamal had different aspirations. From an early age, she dreamed of achieving simple yet meaningful success. Although she completed Plus Two in science and graduated in biochemistry, her interest gravitated toward public service. In the absence of public service preparation resources in Karnali, she self-studied in Jumla and traveled to Kathmandu only for exams. “I passed written exams for most of the services I applied to,” she noted.

Ultimately, in 2069 BS, she joined the civil service as a Branch Officer. Alongside her government service, she managed family responsibilities. Balancing marriage, children, and career, she gained experience working in various districts and ministries. During this period, she also established her credentials internationally. Winning the prestigious Australia Awards scholarship, she studied public policy in Canberra. This journey from a remote village in Jumla to a developed educational environment globally broadened her outlook on life.

According to Hamal, one must view life with a broad perspective rather than magnifying difficulties. “Even great pain appears small when seen in the context of the world. One must learn to stay strong,” she said. Despite attractive opportunities and study abroad programs, she chose to return home for service. She recounted declining a scholarship for advanced study in South Korea, saying, “It was not just achievements, but life balance, social contribution, and the desire to work in my own place that motivated me forward.”

Currently serving as Chief District Officer in Dolpa, she considers the three months spent working there the most satisfying period of her life. Conducting elections amid remote geography, limited resources, and harsh winter conditions was a significant test. Especially in remote areas like Upper Dolpa, where management challenges are considerable, she successfully fulfilled her responsibilities. “After arriving in Dolpa, I experienced its beauty and warmth closely. This is the happiest time of my career,” she shared. She attributes her success primarily to her family’s support. The encouragement of her parents, husband, and in-laws made progress easier. “When a daughter, daughter-in-law, or wife has family support, she can reach far,” she remarked. Hamal urged Karnali’s youth, particularly girls, to explore opportunities locally. “Going abroad is not the ultimate solution. There are opportunities here too. One must believe in oneself, work hard, and love their own land,” she emphasized. Junu Hamal Dhakal’s journey from a simple girl in Jumla to Chief District Officer in Dolpa serves as an inspiring message to thousands of Karnali youths—big dreams are reachable with confidence and perseverance.

Construction work on the Kankadbhitta-Laukahi road has been delayed due to a shortage of bitumen caused by tensions in West Asia. Nepal Oil Corporation’s quota system on diesel supply has failed to provide sufficient diesel required for the project. The eastern section of the Kankadbhitta-Laukahi road spans 45 kilometers and is being upgraded at a cost of NPR 1.0694 billion. (28 Chaitra, Kathmandu)

The shortage of petroleum products has slowed down the road construction, which is currently underway. The ongoing tensions in West Asia have led to a bitumen shortage, creating difficulties for road surfacing, according to Ujwal Prasain, Project Manager of the construction company, Ibraskan Kalika JV. The joint venture is responsible for upgrading the eastern section of the Kankadbhitta-Laukahi road corridor.

According to the company, the bitumen stock in hand will only last for 10–15 days during the main surfacing season. A base layer has been prepared on 22 kilometers of road for the first layer of surfacing, but despite costly purchases, the availability of bitumen remains insufficient, Prasain said. The Nepal Oil Corporation’s diesel quota system is also reported to have hampered the supply of diesel necessary for the project, causing further disruption in construction activities.

Sunilbabu Pant, Chief CDE of the eastern section of the Kankadbhitta-Laukahi road project, stated that surfacing is only possible using stored bitumen. He noted that the rising petroleum prices following the escalation of tensions in West Asia have made work more challenging, and the construction parties have conveyed these difficulties. Reports have reached project management that contractors have even returned Letters of Credit opened for bitumen import. Pant warned that if the West Asian crisis continues unresolved, work on this road project could stop within a week to ten days.

Kathmandu – As part of its commitment to enhancing Windows quality, Microsoft has announced significant changes to the Windows Insider Program. The company has restructured its beta testing channels to create a more organized and predictable public beta testing system. On Thursday, Alec Otlé, Principal Group Product Manager at Microsoft, shared details of the new plan, stating that the previous ‘Canary’ and ‘Dev’ channels have been merged to form a new ‘Experimental’ channel. This channel will provide access to new features first, with user feedback directly influencing the development process.

The main features of the revamped system include:
Channel Restructuring: The new system will feature two main channels – ‘Experimental’ and ‘Beta’. The ‘Release Preview’ channel will be reclassified as an ‘Advanced’ option, primarily targeting IT professionals.
Feature Flag Page: Users will now be able to easily enable or disable new features on their own. Previously, this required software like ‘Vive Tool’, but now these controls are integrated directly into Windows settings.

Seamless Access to Lower Channels: The hassle of having to completely wipe and reinstall Windows to leave the Insider Program or switch channels has been eliminated. With the new ‘in-place upgrade’ capability, users can change channels while keeping their data intact.
End of CFR (Controlled Feature Rollout): Controlled Feature Rollouts have been fully discontinued in the Beta channel. This means once a user installs a version with announced new features and restarts their system, those features will be immediately available. These changes are expected to take effect within a few weeks.

Users currently on the Canary and Dev channels will be automatically migrated to the new channels based on the Windows version they are using (such as 25H2 or 26H1). Microsoft expects this initiative to reduce confusion among Windows users and significantly improve software quality.

Kathmandu – Scientists have identified the primary cause of the extremely rare blood clotting (blood clots) complications observed after some COVID-19 vaccinations. An international research team from Flinders University in Australia and the University of Greifswald in Germany has unraveled the molecular basis behind this mysterious condition which had puzzled experts for years. This breakthrough unlocks the potential for developing even safer vaccines in the future.

The study, focusing on misleading immune responses, revealed that the human immune system makes a critical error after adenovirus-based vaccination or natural infection. The issue arises because the body cannot distinguish between the viral protein and a protein found in blood called “platelet factor 4.” Following vaccination, while the immune system correctly attacks the virus, it mistakenly produces antibodies against its own blood proteins, triggering abnormal blood clotting. Although this reaction is exceptionally rare, it was previously reported in some individuals vaccinated with the AstraZeneca shot, a condition medically termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).

Dr. Jing Jing Wang, a researcher at Flinders University, explained that the team employed advanced technologies like mass spectrometry sequencing to detect similarities between the viral and blood proteins. She described this discovery as the “missing link” that scientifically explains how a normal immune response can cause harmful effects in very rare cases. Professor Tom Gordon, the team leader, hailed the finding as “an outstanding achievement of global collaboration.”

The most encouraging aspect is that vaccine developers can now eliminate this risk entirely by making minor modifications to the adenovirus protein structure. Scientists claim that altering the virus’s “pVII” protein will not affect vaccine efficacy but will completely prevent the blood clotting risk. Professor James McCluskey from the University of Melbourne called this a monumental scientific accomplishment that will play a crucial role in restoring public confidence in vaccines. This advancement is especially expected to assist the safe distribution of adenovirus-based vaccines in developing countries where they are widely used.

The report of the Karki Commission 2082, formed to investigate the events of Bhadra 23 and 24, has not been officially published. However, some media outlets, including OnlineKhabar, have circulated the report, leading the umbrella organization of legal professionals, the Nepal Bar Association, along with several distinguished lawyers, to strongly criticize the commission’s comments regarding the judiciary. They contend that the judiciary was once as pure as milk, so flawless that no one would dare to point a finger at it; this encompassed judges, lawyers, and all related staff. They are upset that the Karki Commission’s report has tarnished this very image and destroyed the judiciary’s reputation.

The commission was tasked with thoroughly investigating the physical and human damages caused during the protests held on Bhadra 23 and 24 across Kathmandu and other parts of the country. It was to identify the causes of these incidents, prepare a report with recommendations, and suggest necessary measures to prevent such events from recurring. Therefore, the commission needed to examine why numerous courts, including the Supreme Court, were destroyed; why the judiciary, especially courts, suffered damage in 23 courts due to the fury of the General Strike (Janajati Andolan) movement.

During the suppression of the Janajati movement, the then government led by both the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and the Nepali Congress was responsible, making an investigation into their leadership necessary. Amid this inquiry, various distortions, discrepancies, and irregularities observed within the judiciary were documented in the report, which held the then leadership accountable. It is therefore understandable that stakeholders within the judiciary expressed great indignation. Notably, the group of lawyers closely affiliated with these parties, representing their interests and working for their benefit, voiced serious objections to the report’s findings.